THE MUSIC MACHINE'S SEAN BONNIWELL DEAD AT 71

According to a website called Rock Edition, Sean Bonniwell, lead singer of the influential 60s garage band The Music Machine, has died at age 71. This is about the only article on Boniwell's death on the Internet. Apparently, the mainstream media is more interested in unimportant people like Tim Tebow and Sarah Palin.

The Music Machine had one major Top 40 hit in 1966 with "Talk Talk," followed by "People In Me," which made it to #66 in 1967. They also had two singles in 1967 that became cult favorites, "Double Yellow Line" and "The Eagle Never Hunts the Fly."  When they moved to Warner Brothers in late 1967, they became known as The Bonniwell Music Machine, which was more sunshine pop than early punk/metal.

With Sean Bonniwell and Michael Jackson both deceased (as well as Slappy White), we will probably be forced to listen to some doofus country singer who wears two gloves (probably those Wells Lamont gloves because Paul Harvey advertised them).

The video is of the Music Machine performing "Talk Talk" on Where The Action Is. Along with "Pushin Too Hard" by the The Seeds, "Talk Talk" could be the story of my life.

UPDATE (12/29/2011):  The Los Angeles Times has an article on the death of Sean Bonniwell. Kudos to them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF DESDINOVA!

That is me, Christmas 1978.

If you are looking for something to read until Santa arrives, here is a Slate article, by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen,  on writer and radio host Jean Shepherd. His book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, was the basis for the movie, Christmas Story.  Also found a piece on Vince Guaraldi, who composed the music for A Charlie Brown Christmas and other the Peanuts cartoons of the 60s and 70s.

INTERESTING NEWSPAPER ADS FROM 1959

I featured these in 2008 on the old blog. The two liquor ads come from a 1959 Lebanon Daily Record. The ads for Cranks Drug Store and Woolworths are from 1959 Springfield News Leader. As with anything I did at that time, it upset some people here in Springfield. Lebanon has always had a better sense of humor about this stuff.
Here are somethings I find funny about this:

• Mr. Magoo pitching beer.
• Woolworths is having a "gay Xmas."
• Cranks is also celebrating "Xmas."
• Cranks and other retail stores in the 50s seem to always have a sale on Milk of Magnesia and women's underpants (3-for-1) the same week. Is there a correlation? 

If you need to make the images larger, right click on them and select "Open in new window." Then click on them again.

BY REQUEST: RETRO SANTA CLAUS COCA COLA AD (1960)

I noticed on FeedJit this morning that someone had landed on this blog after Googling "santa claus retro coca cola."  I assume they were looking for one of the many Santa Claus ads for Coca Cola from the past. I found this one on a 1960 Life magazine. Unfortunately, my scanner is small, but I hope it gives you an idea of what great artwork was involved in this ad campaign.

SANTA CLAUS MEETS BATMAN

Santa Claus is played by Western actor Andy Devine. It is appropriate that he play Santa Claus, since the character he played on The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok was named Jingles.

K Gordon Murray Presents SANTA CLAUS in EASTMAN COLORSCOPE

I remember Aunt Norma on Children's Hour promoting that you could take a canned food item to the Tower Theater, here in Springfield, to see this movie for free. It is more fun to watch it with the MST3K gang.

March of the Wooden Soldiers(Babes in Toyland) Trailer

REAGAN GIVES CHESTERFIELDS FOR CHRISTMAS

Peace On Earth. Classic Christmas cartoon. MGM 1939.

The poignant Hugh Harman cartoon was nominated for both a Oscar and Nobel Peace Prize. I do believe there will come a day when squirrels take over the world.

The Snow Man 1940

Produced by Terrytoons, the company that gave us Mighty Mouse, Heckle & Jeckle and Deputy Dawg. This was supposed to be a parody of such popular films of the day as Frankenstein and King Kong.

Santa In Animal Land (1948) Vintage Christmas Puppet Show

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE RESPOSIBLE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS, ABUSE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL OR SUICIDE CAUSED BY VIEWING THIS CLIP.

Santa Claus, Punch and Judy (1948) Violent Christmas Puppet Show

Dobie Gray Dies At 71

Dobie Gray Dies At 71 AllAccess.com

Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies

Acclaimed R&B Singer Howard Tate Dies AllAccess.com

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's M*A*S*H, Dragnet & Pete & Gladys

Harry Morgan dies at 96; star of TV's 'MASH'

This article is from the L.A. Times. Here is a sample of an early TV show starring Harry Morgan, Pete & Gladys.

Coca-Cola Coke commercial Christmas 1980 "I'd like to teach the world ...

Classic Coca Cola Christmas 1977

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES LUCKY STRIKE

SANTA CLAUS SMOKES CAMELS

Laugh-In star Alan Sues dies at 85

’Laugh-In’ player Alan Sues dies at 85

Forgive the strange link above, it is from MSNBC. It is an obit for comedy actor Alan Sues, from the 60s and 70s TV show Laugh-In. Here is Alan Sues as Peter Pan in a 1972 Peter Pan Peanut Butter commercial.

WHO SHOULD REPLACE CHRISTIAN BALE AS BATMAN?

Actor Christian Bale has announced he will not play Batman again. I didn't like his Batman movies. I even said on my old blog that that The Dark Knight would suck before it even hit the theaters. Some little dork got upset about it and even had other comic book geeks posting nasty things about me on IMDB. I should note that if you Google "the dark knight sucks" you will find that many people agreed with me. There is even a Facebook sight for people who feel the same as me about the film.

I've decided to give you my idea of what the next Batman movie, after The Dark Knight Rising, should be like and who should be in it. First off, it needs to be a hip, satirical comedy version of the 60's TV series, much like the Brady Bunch movies of the 90s. As for stars, Batman should be played by Patrick Warburton, who played The Tick in the TV show (Top photo). Robin the Boy Wonder should be played by Justin Bieber (Bottom photo). Alfred should be played by John Cleese and Aunt Harriet by Jean Stapleton (Edith from All In the Family and the movie featured in my last post, Cold Turkey). Rounding out the cast would be Robbie Coltrane as Chief O'Hara and as Adam West as Commissioner Gordon.

Of course, an opinion, like this one, is why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL EAT TODAY: Cold Turkey (1971)

YOU CAN WATCH THE WKRP "Turkeys Away" EPISODE ON HULU

I was going to post a video clip that was on You Tube. It was a intro by Gary Sandy for a repeat of the WKRP In Cincinnati episode "Turkeys Away" during the fourth season. In the old days, the first season of a TV show was not put on DVD and sold in stores during the second or third season. In order to see shows again, you had to wait until the show was placed in syndicated reruns or the network reran an episode from a previous season.

In the clip, Sandy, who played Andy Travis, explains that CBS had received a large number of  letters from viewers asking for the "Turkeys Away" episode to be shown again. This is what he said (according to IMDB):
"Hi! I'm Gary Sandy. You know, of all the shows we've done on WKRP in the first three seasons, not one show ever generated the amount of mail, the amount of interest, as a show we did our very first season. It was called "Turkeys Away". So we kinda thought you might like to see it again. It's about Thanksgiving... so naturally we've chosen the Christmas season to show it. Happy Holidays. Drums, please."

You noticed I said the WAS on You Tube. Of course, someone has removed that video from You Tube. However, the whole episode in on Hulu. I placed it at the bottom of the post. It should be noted that TV Guide listed this episode as number in the "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" list a few years ago.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM DESDINOVA!!!
WKRP IN CINCINNATI: "TURKEYS AWAY"

70's CHEESECAKE

This is from Good Housekeeping October 1977. If you are looking for the other kind of 70s cheesecake, go to Retrospace.

NOTE: To make this picture larger, right click on the image, then select "Open in new window," then click on the image to magnify.

THE TIMELORDS / KLF - Doctorin' The Tardis

JELL-O STRAWBERRY BAVARIAN & RAINBOW CAKE

Jell-O is good any time of year. This is from a Jell-O ad June 1959 Good Housekeeping. I have a DVD of a 1950's sitcom, that was sponsored by Jell-O. The commercials were left in the show as part of the DVD. Jell-O had several flavors and products during the 50's that apparent didn't survive, or at least I've never heard of them.
If you love Jell-O check out the blog, The Joys of Jello.

NOTE: To make the photo larger, right click on it, select "Open in New Window," then click on the picture to magnify.

PILLSBURY DESERTS

From Good Housekeeping October 1977. If you are questioning the tastiness of pie made from Hungry jack biscuits, check out the stuff Gilligan over at Retrospace found.

NOTE: If you are having trouble reading the recipes, right click on the picture, select "Open In a New Window"  and then click on the picture to magnify.

BAKING WITH HELLMANN'S MAYONNAISE

And speaking of Munchkins, here is a recipe for a chocolate munchkin cake (Doesn't mention if they scream while they are in the oven). I know my mother used mayonnaise in some baked goods, so it probably taste better than it sounds. From Good Housekeeping October 1977.

NOTE: If you need to see this large, right click, select "Open in New Window" and then magnify.

Meinhardt Raabe dies at 94; one of the Munchkins in 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times

Meinhardt Raabe dies at 94; one of the Munchkins in 'The Wizard of Oz' - Los Angeles Times

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE FROM CAMPBELL'S SOUP

From Good Housekeeping October 1977. The slogan used in this Campbell Soup ad was "You have a way with Campbell's.

MUSHROOM RICE FROM THE RICE COUNCIL OF AMERICA

From an October 1977 Good Housekeeping.

EASY DEVILED EGGS FROM HEINZ

From a June 1959 Good Housekeeping.

THREE MORE THANKSGIVING RECIPES

I would like to thank Cheeky for these recipes.
SAGE SAUSAGE DRESSING

• 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
• 8 slices day old white bread, cubed
• 2 16 oz pkgs sage sausage
• 1 c. onion, diced
• 1 c. celery, sliced
• 3-5 c. chicken broth
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground sage

Prepare cornbread according to package directions, set aside to cool. While cornbread is cooling, chop celery and onions and cut bread into cubes, set aside. Cook sausage until well crumbled and no longer pink. Remove sausage from pan and set aside, leaving 2 tbsp of drippings in pan. Add vegetables and seasoning, saute until crisp tender. Remove from heat. Add sausage and bread cubes to vegetables, toss to mix well. Crumble cooled cornbread into large bowl. Add sausage mixture and toss. Add chicken broth 1 cup at a time until desired moistness is achieved. Spoon into 13x9 glass baking dish and bake at 350 degrees 50 - 60 minutes, or until done.


LEMONY TURKEY GRAVY:

• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1 carrot
• 1 rib of celery
• 1 small onion, halved
• 3 c. chicken broth
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

Pulse veggies in food processor until finely chopped. Melt butter over med-high heat, add veggies and cook 7 mins. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 4 mins. Lower heat to medium, whisk in broth, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Simmer for 13 minutes, strain and serve.


HERB BUTTER RUB FOR POULTRY:

• 1 stick salted butter (or margarine), softened
• poultry seasoning
• red pepper
• fresh ground black pepper
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• dried sage
• dried basil

Place butter in bowl, add seasoning and mix well.
Form back into basic stick shape, rewrap and place in refrigerator until firm again.

LEONARD STONE DIES AT 87

This is an obit from a website called All Voices for character actor Leonard Stone (photo above). Most of the obits mention that his most famous role was as Violet's father in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Am I the only one who remembers Stone from a series of 70's Alka Seltzer commercials. He and another actor portrayed characters named Conk and Bonk. They wore derby hats and pinstriped suits. One had a large mallet and the other wore boxing gloves. They would give people "the old one-two." I could not find one of these on You Tube. I do know they inspired villains in Spider Man comic books.  

MINIME'S CHERRY FLUFF RECIPE

Minime is a friend of mine from Lebanon, Mo. She thought that readers of this blog would enjoy this desert recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed.
• 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained.
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling.
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk.
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows.
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut.
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

Directions Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix well. Chill overnight. Yield: 12-16 servings.
Sounds yummy!!!

IDEAS FOR THANKSGIVING

I know that people see me as a rebel, who doesn’t take orders or opinions from anyone. True, but I’m thinking of asking for help. After the success of the Countdown to Halloween, I’m looking toward the next big holiday which is Thanksgiving. I have an idea. I have a large collection of women’s fashion, “nesting” and Life magazines. These magazines have plenty of recipes and food related articles in them. I have decided to feature them, along with my usual pop culture retrospective.

Here is where the response, feedback, audience-driven, media major goes to work. I would like for you, as a reader to contact me, Desdinova-the Super Villain of the Ozarks, with a recipe for a dish suitable for Thanksgiving dinner, desert or snack. This way we also keep the blog content localized.

Use the following e-mail addresses: d4windsbar@yahoo.com or lhs1987@socket.net. Address them as “Desdinova Thanksgiving Recipe.” This way I know who is reading this blog.

NOTE: I have been diagnosed as a “borderline diabetic,” so diabetic recipes will probably take precedent.

COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN IS OVER

This was my first year of participating in the Countdown To Halloween. I really enjoyed this blogging event. It was a shot in the arm to this new blog. The only draw back is not enough time to post about everything I wanted to. I'll admit I got some ideas late in the game. I also may have posted too much from You Tube. I realize that this was my first experience and will know what to do differently next year.

UNIVERSAL MONSTER JIGGLY TOYS ON MY SCANNER

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

ZACHELEY'S TV DANCE PARTY WITH THE BOX TOPS

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper

Screaming Lord Sutch - Jack The Ripper (live 1964)

NOTE: This is from a British TV news program that was broadcast several years ago. Screaming Lord Sutch has since died. I love the reaction of the girls in the audience.

BEST OF DESDINOVA: HALLOWEEN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: HALLOWEEN MOVIE SUGGESTIONS

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Halloween Top 50 Songs

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Halloween Top 50 Songs

BEST OF DESDINOVA: Why Does Radio Hate Halloween?

Desdinova - Super Villain of the Ozarks: Why Does Radio Hate Halloween?

NOTE: This was before I started ending these kind of post with "Opinions, like this one, is why I'm considered the Super-Villain of the Ozarks!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Spooks-1930-Oswald the Rabbit

CARRY ON SCREAMING: A REVIEW

The Carry On comedies were produced in Great Britain from 1958 to 1978. It is interesting to see ads for these in the old Springfield Daily News and Springfield Leader & Press, which is a testament to their minor popularity in this country. I'll get into another example of their following in this country later on. I became familiar with the Carry On films when they were part of a syndicated movie package called "The Movie Greats Network." It was there that I first saw Carry On Screaming.
The Carry On films satirized various British institutions such as the military, hospitals, public transportation, temp agencies, public schools, cruise ships and law enforcement. Along the way, they began poked fun at movies too. Starting first with James Bond, then Cleopatra, pirate films, and American Westerns. It would only make sense for the Carry On gang to take on Britain's most popular film studio, Hammer Studios and horror films in general.
The film revolves around the search for a missing girl (Angela Douglas). The only clue left at scene of the crime was a large, hairy finger with a sharp, black claw. The finger belongs to a reanimated neanderthal named Oddbod.
The girl's boyfriend, Albert Potter (Jim Dale), goes to the police with the hairy finger. Sergeant Bung (Harry H. Corbett) and Constable Slobotham (Peter Butterworth) decide to investigate, since she is the sixth woman to disappear from that area. After Slobotham has a chance meeting with the monster, Bung decides to visit a near by Gothic manor, known as the Bide-a-Wee Rest Home. They are greeted by a stoic zombie-like butler named Sockett (Bernard Bresslaw), who tells them that the master of the house has been dead for fifteen years, "but if you come in, I'll ask him if he can see you."
Next, they meet Valeria (Fenella Fielding), a slinky Goth chick in a tight scarlet dress. She says that she will have to "wake" her brother, Dr. Orlando Watt. Dr. Watt is played by Carry On regular Kenneth Williams. The best way to explain Kenneth Williams to a person who isn't familiar with him would be a British version Paul Lynde.
We later find out that Oddbod kidnaps women, brings them to Dr. Watt, who then covers them with wax and sells them as mannequins to clothing stores.
A public men's room attendant (Charlie Hawtrey) attempts to inform Bung and Slobotham about the women being turned into mannequins, but Oddbod gives him a fatal swirly (off screen, of course).
A police scientist (Jon Pertwee) tries a galvanic experiment with the severed monster finger and accidentally creates causes another monster to grow at the end of the finger. The monster shows up at the manor and  Dr.Watt names him Junior.
Add to this, a mummy named King Rubatitti, Valeria turning Bung into a werewolf and more than enough double-entendres and bad puns to make this one of the best horror film parodies of all-time.

Some other interesting trivia to note about this film.

• I mentioned that contrary to what some have suggested, the Carry On films did have a modest following in America. As a matter of fact, the American distributors asked that nerdy Charlie Hawtrey be included, because he tended to be very popular with the American audiences.
• Jim Dale's character is named Albert Potter. These days Jim Dale records audio books of the Harry Potter series.
• There is a tip of the hat to Abbot and Costello when Williams introduces himself. Slobotham says "Doctor who?" Williams replies "Not Who, Watt! Dr. Who is my uncle."  Jon Pertwee, who plays the police scientist, later played Dr. Who in the early 70s.
• Actor Frank Thornton plays the manager of a clothing store in this film, later played the manager of a clothing store on the TV show Are You Being Served?

Check out Carry On Screaming. It is great ghoulish fun.
       

Carry On Screaming (1966) - Trailer

REMEMBER KY 3's "NIGHT DIARY" SPECIAL

On Halloween 1990, KYTV aired a great TV special called "Night Diary." It was hosted by the late Fred Schweitzer. For those who don't remember Fred Schweitzer, he was a commercial producer at KYTV. He also was an actor and writer. Many remember his portrayal of Wild Bill Hickok on the Park Central Square. His other famous character was a vampire named Robert Barlow. It was this persona that he used when hosting "Night Diary." Sadly, Schweitzer died suddenly in 1996. "Night Diary" was a collection of spooky legends and ghost stories from the Ozarks. It was apparently quite popular, because KY 3 rerun the special in October of 1993 and October of 1995. According to this website, there was a "Night Diary 2" that aired on Halloween 1994. I wish KYTV would either rerun these TV specials or post them on You Tube. It would be great if another generation could see these superb local productions.

PS: For those of you who don't remember Fred Schweitzer, there is a photo of him and his oddly decorated office on the KY3 Website.

DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN: A REVIEW

There are two kinds of bad movies. One features a cast of unknowns, who are struggling to make it, and then there are the movies, which famous people on the way down. Al Adamson was a master of the second kind of film and Dracula vs Frankenstein is the one of the latter. This movie was J. Carol Nash and Lon Chaney Jr. last movie roles. It also features Freaks star Alberto Rossitto, Hawaiian Eye star Anthony Eisley, Famous Monster editor Forrest Akerman and MGM musical star Russ Tamblyn. The only person who became a bigger star after this movie was Jim Davis, who went on to be Jock Ewing on Dallas, and future director Greydon Clark.

This movie features a Dracula that looks like a cross between Frank Zappa and Jerry Seinfield and speaks with an echo effect on his voice, a Frankenstein monster with a face made of Bisquick, a gang of bikers on minibikes and J. Carol Nash’s clicking false teeth. Other than some violent murders and a glimpse of a bare breast, this film seems like it might have been made for children. It was even rated PG (GP back in those days).

This is one of those bad movies that is fun to watch. What makes it fun is that it keeps moving at a brisk pace and the people in it are a mixture of good actors on the way down and incredibly bad actors. The slowest this film gets is when Anthony Eisley and actress Regina Carrol make out to some generic 70s soft rock song. It is actually less of a movie and more like a living horror comic book.

Dracula vs Frankenstein is crap, but it is good, fun crap.

DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN (1971) Trailer